“Ballsy move,” said Bast.
“They’re playing chicken,” said Kevin.
“Chicken?”
“A game played on Earth. Whoever gets scared first loses.”
The thought provoked Bast and a spark of defiance overtook him. “Let’s play chicken then.” He turned to the helmsman and said, “Hold position. Do not move until the escape pod is safely on board.”
The Kemmar cruiser continued its slow turn towards the Chaanisar ship. Both vessels maintained constant fire on each other without pause.
“Reading hull breaches on Kemmar cruiser.”
“Keep firing,” said Bast.
“Colonel,” said the Tactician. “The Kemmar vessel has passed the point where it can safely stop its turn. Collision is now imminent.”
“Is the escape pod on board yet?”
“Negative, Sir.”
“Time till impact?”
“Three minutes.”
“Hold position.”
Bast had developed some measure of respect for the Kemmar’s willingness to sacrifice themselves in order to win a battle. They didn’t fear death. That ship was going to ram them. Nonetheless, he would not run from them. They were not the superior warriors, and his crew would accept death just as readily as any Kemmar. If they wanted to test his will to win they would be sorely disappointed with the outcome.
As it turned the cruiser lost use of some of its batteries, reducing its rate of fire. The Chaanisar ship didn’t budge. It stood toe to toe with the Kemmar ship and threw everything it had at it, like an exhausted heavyweight.
“Hull breach level three. Emergency field is in place.”
The retrieval drones slowly approached the Chaanisar ship, hampered by the weight of the Space Force escape pod.
“Two minutes until impact.”
“They’re calling your bluff, Colonel.”
“I am learning a lot today. What is a bluff?”
“A bluff is when you’re pretending to do something you don’t really intend to do.”
“I see. You don’t think I intend to let them ram my ship?” Bast locked eyes with the Chief, letting him see the resolve in his eyes.
The Chief seemed to turn cautious. “It doesn’t seem like a desirable outcome.”
Bast smiled. “Perhaps not. We can jump away to safety, but what if the Doctor is on board that escape pod? We would lose her to the Kemmar.”
Kevin nodded. Understanding in his eyes.
“One minute till impact.”
“The difference between success and failure often comes down to commitment. The Kemmar have shown they are worthy opponents, committed to victory. Are we less than the Kemmar?”
The question triggered a defiant posture from the Chief. He squared his shoulders and said “Hell no.”
“Hell no,” said Bast. “We will prevail, Chief.”
“Thirty seconds till impact.”
On the viewscreen the Kemmar ship seemed to already be on top of them. Energy bursts continued to criss cross the sky, ravaging the hulls of both vessels. They had each suffered heavy damage. Bast wasn’t sure either ship would survive the coming collision. He had to admire the Kemmar resolve. They were a worthy foe.
“Ten seconds till impact.”
“Escape pod is on board, Sir.”
“Initiate jump,” said Bast, calmly.
The Chaanisar ship jumped away, narrowly denying the Kemmar its suicide mission. The Chaanisar battle cruiser landed in a quiet region of space.
“Report,” said Bast.
“Reading no threats present, Sir, Kemmar or otherwise.”
“Undertake repairs immediately.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Shall we go and greet our guests, Chief?” said Bast.
Chief St. Clair exhaled sharply, clearly relieved. “Let’s go,” he said.
Chapter 42
The escape pod sat secured on the Chaanisar flight deck. Its hatch hadn’t opened and there was no way of knowing who was inside. A couple of Chaanisar soldiers stood guard in front of the pod, and the rest of the flight deck personnel continued their usual activities.
Kevin wondered who was inside the pod, excitement surging through him. It might be the Doctor, or it might be the Captain. Whoever it was, he was happy to be retrieving the crew. The more they rescued the better. He felt like he needed to catch his breath after the battle with the Kemmar. Colonel Bast, however, seemed unshakable. Did anything get to this guy? No wonder the Chaanisar were so effective during the wars.
As they approached the pod Colonel Bast motioned to the soldiers to stand aside. They moved out of the way and Kevin stepped up to the vessel.
“This is Security Chief Kevin St. Clair of the Hermes. You are safe now. Please open your hatch.”
Nothing happened. Kevin rapped his knuckles against the hatch. “I repeat, this is Security Chief Kevin St. Clair of the Hermes. Please open your hatch.
Nothing.
“Perhaps they are ill,” said Bast. “Or they could have perished.”
“Or they don’t believe me,” said Kevin.
“That is a possibility. Nonetheless, we must open that hatch to know for sure.”
Bast summoned a salvage drone. It was normally used to dismantle damaged vessels and had powerful cutting tools, allowing it to open the escape pod like a tin can. It went to work on the hatch, shearing away the heavy metal, and soon had completely severed it from the craft, leaving a jagged opening behind.
Kevin took a step toward the hatch and was greeted with energy weapon fire. The bolt barely missed his head. He ducked and dove away out of the line of fire.
Getting up he shouted at the escape pod. “Hold your fire! This is Security Chief Kevin St. Clair of the Hermes.”
No response.
The two guards were now flanking the craft, weapons drawn, ready to fire.
“This is Security Chief Kevin St. Clair, please acknowledge that you understand.”
Silence.
Kevin looked at Bast and said, “They must be disoriented. Maybe they’re delusional.”
Bast stared at the pod. He then accessed his communicator. “I need a paralytic agent on the flight deck.”
“Paralytic agent?” said Kevin, worried that Bast might be overreacting. “That could cause permanent damage.”
Bast was expressionless. He scrutinized Kevin for a moment and said, “I assure you, Chief, the effects are only temporary. We can administer the counter agent as soon as they have been disarmed.”
“I don’t know how I feel about this, Colonel.” Kevin heard the worry in his voice and stiffened. He still had trust issues. He wondered if he’d ever fully trust the Chaanisar.
“Don’t worry, Chief. Your people will not be harmed.”
Kevin grudgingly agreed.
A man soon appeared wearing an oxygen mask and a menacing short barreled rifle. Kevin’s hands balled into tight fists, and the muscles in his back flexed. He felt his knees bend slightly and suppressed the impulse to tackle the man before he could shoot, but it wasn’t easy. His job was to protect his crew, not leave them to the Chaanisar’s tender mercies. He had no way of knowing what their gas would do to his men. How could he let Bast lull him into compliance?
He felt Bast’s eyes on him. Scrutinizing him. Were his feelings showing through? Did it even matter what his feelings were?
“Proceed,” said Bast, still focused on Kevin.
The man approached the pod from the side and fired repeatedly inside. Within seconds the interior of the pod filled with a deep blue smoke. It brought back memories of past battles. Ruthless battles where no quarter was given or received. Kevin resisted the urge to run into the pod and drag the people out of there. He tried to convince himself that they would be okay. That they wouldn’t suffer any permanent damage. But the thought chewed at his mind, like some cruel ravenous beast.
The man looked at Bast and nodded. Bast sent in the two guards, who also wore masks now. Seconds passed, but they felt like h
ours. He would be one of the first things his people saw when they were brought out. They would be paralyzed, but their eyes would point at him. You. Traitor. Collaborator. How could you do this to us?
The guards soon emerged, dragging out the first body. He tried to make out who it was, but the smoke obstructed his vision. The smoke cleared as they pulled the body out further, and he got a good look. Only there was something wrong. It wasn’t a human. It was a Diakan.
It was Tallos.
“Motherfucker,” said Kevin. All the pressure building up inside him spewed out like a geyser. He drew his sidearm and lunged forward with murderous rage, pointing the gun at the Diakan’s head.
Tallos was immobile, but conscious, and he looked up at Kevin with those large, unblinking eyes.
“Chief!” said Bast. “Don’t shoot.”
After everything that happened, Tallos was still alive. Kevin couldn’t believe it. And he was in one of the Hermes escape pods. He wondered which humans didn’t get off the Hermes as a result of Tallos taking an escape pod. His finger tightened on the trigger. Soon Tallos would be no more.
“Hold your fire, Chief,” said Bast, uncharacteristic alarm in his voice.
The words reached Kevin, piercing through the anger that enveloped him. “You don’t understand, Colonel,” said Kevin. “This piece of shit tried to take over the Hermes. Tried to kill a mother and her child. He doesn’t deserve to live.”
“I understand how you feel, Chief. But we need to keep him alive. We need to find out what he knows.”
“He knows nothing.”
“Let’s be sure first.”
Bast was right. He had to control his emotions. The guards had brought out two more Diakans. All three were paralyzed. They couldn’t do much harm in this state.
Kevin holstered his weapon. “Ok, Colonel. It’s your ship.”
“Thank you, Chief,” said Bast. Turning to the guards he said, “Take them into custody.”
Chapter 43
Tallos sat in the middle of a small gray room. An empty chair stood in front of him. He was no longer paralyzed, but had energy restraints on his wrists and ankles. Several cameras and scanners were trained on him from the walls. Colonel Bast studied him on a display from an adjoining room. This was a surprise he hadn’t expected. A high ranking Diakan in his custody. Under the Juttari it would mean an instant promotion. Only in that case he would hand Tallos over to Juttari Intelligence. Things were different now, and they would stay different. What would he do with this treasure?
Bast walked out and entered the interrogation room that held the Diakan. He sat in the empty chair, and didn’t speak. He merely stared, analyzing Tallos like a scientist studying a newly discovered species.
“You know, I’ve never seen a Diakan up close,” said Bast, leaning in as if to get a better look. “After all the battles, you would think it would have happened. But no. This is the first time I’ve been face to face with one.”
“Who are you?” said Tallos.
Bast’s right hand shot out with unforgiving speed. His fist connected hard with Tallos’s face, knocking him and his chair backwards onto the floor. He was surprised at how satisfying the blow felt. He had been trained to hate the Diakans. They were the sworn enemy of the Juttari Empire. Even with his new found freedom and his personal hatred for the Juttari, the conditioning stayed with him.
Tallos lay on his back, stunned by the ferocious blow.
“My name is Colonel Bast.”
Tallos didn’t respond.
“Release restraints,” said Bast, and the energy bands around Tallos’s wrists and ankles opened. “You will pick up your chair, place it back in its original position and sit in it.”
Tallos slowly rolled off his back and got onto his feet. He lifted his chair, put it back on its legs and sat down, facing Bast. “You are Chaanisar,” said Tallos.
Bast nodded. “And you are General Tallos.”
“You know my rank? How do you possess this knowledge?”
Bast struck him again, sending Tallos back down on his back. The second strike confirmed his earlier observation. The Diakan’s head was different. Softer. More flexible. His fist seemed to sink into the Diakan skull, before the tissue bounced back, like a rubber band. He wondered how much his blow actually hurt him.
Tallos got up without being asked and sat back into his chair.
“We have a database of all high ranking Diakans,” said Bast. “It was easy enough to learn your identity. You have quite an impressive military record, General.”
“All in the past,” said Tallos, no noticeable change in his voice. If he was afraid, he did a good job hiding it.
“Yes, things have taken an unpleasant turn for you, General.”
“Where are the Juttari, Colonel? Why is Chief St. Clair with you? Why am I here?”
The question surprised Bast. Tallos willingly risked taking another punch. It impressed him. “So many questions, General. This all must be very confusing for you. Why don’t I ask the questions for a while and then I might decide to answer some of yours.”
Tallos stayed silent.
“Or, if you don’t want to speak with me, we can continue playing games. I assure you I have an unbelievable amount of stamina. I wonder if you can match it?”
“Ask your questions.”
“What was your mission on the Hermes?”
“I was sent as an adviser, to assist the Captain.”
“Come now, General. We both know that wasn’t why you were there.”
“The Captain needed guidance. He had no experience with starship command.”
Bast unleashed another savage blow sending Tallos to the floor yet again.
“Don’t you think you are a little overqualified for that role, General?”
Tallos picked up his chair, sat down and said, “I do not question my orders.”
“Would you rather we do this the hard way, General?”
“I will answer your question if you tell me why you are working with the humans.”
“Very well. Proceed.”
“Diakus sent us to ensure the humans accomplish their mission. We oversaw their mission so that no harm came to the Hermes, or its jump system. If required, I was authorized to take command of the Hermes to keep it from harm.”
“You failed in your mission.”
“Captain Pike is a stubborn man.”
“Why were you so interested in their mission?”
“Two reasons. The obvious being the jump system. Diakus considers the technology to be vital to the Galactic Accord. The second was the colonies. When the Hermes found the colonies, I was to act as an ambassador for Diakus and negotiate their entry into the Galactic Accord.”
“Yes, the colonies. I wonder if they really exist.”
“I answered your question. Now tell me what has happened here.”
“Ah yes, there have been some changes on board. The Juttari no longer command this vessel.”
“You mutinied?”
“Oh yes. We certainly did.”
“But how? Your brain chips. How did you resist?”
Bast wondered if the virus had been part of Tallos’s mission. “Don’t you know?”
“Know what?” said Tallos.
“Juttari control of our brain chips failed.”
“How did that happen?”
Bast stifled the urge to hit Tallos again. Wouldn’t he know about the virus? Was it possible that Space Force kept the knowledge from the Diakans? Highly unlikely. Tallos knew something. Bast decided not to show his cards yet. If Tallos knew about the virus then he would surely be wondering how much Bast knew. Better to keep Tallos wondering. “I’m afraid that information is classified,” Bast said.
“I understand.”
Tallos accepted that too easily. He does know something.
“How did Chief St. Clair end up on board?” said Tallos.
“We rescued him and his men from Kerces.”
“What did you say?”
“Did the paralytic agent affect your hearing, General?”
“You attacked the Kemmar planet?”
“Yes.”
“After the Hermes was destroyed trying to do the same?”
“Correct.”
“To rescue Chief St. Clair and his men?”
“That sounds right.”
Tallos leaned back in his chair. Bast knew he was trying to comprehend what he was hearing. Chaanisar mutinying against their Juttari masters, and then risking their lives to rescue Space Force soldiers. People they fought countless bitter battles against. How could any of that make sense to a Diakan? And what of the implications? Did this present a threat to Diakus? He could see the wheels turning in that odd looking head.
Tallos pondered silently, then said, “Why?”
“Unfortunately, General, we do not have enough time for me to answer that question. Now it’s my turn. When you fled the Hermes and commandeered your escape pod, did you see Doctor Ellerbeck?”
“Yes.”
“Was she on an escape pod?”
“Yes, she was.”
“So she escaped the Hermes.”
“I believe she did.” Tallos went quiet again, and then said, “You want the Doctor to remove your brain chips. I understand now.”
Tallos was living up to his reputation.
“Tell me Colonel,” said Tallos. “What do you plan to do once your brain chips have been removed?”
Tallos wasn’t stupid. There was no point lying about why they wanted the Doctor. “We will reassess our situation.”
“What if you do not find the Doctor?”
“We will find her.”
“You do realize that you and your crew would be an invaluable resource to Diakus and Space Force, don’t you?” said Tallos. “I could ensure that you were repatriated. You could go home. You would be seen as heroes. The Chaanisar who rebelled against their Juttari masters. It would be a glorious homecoming for you and your crew.”
Tallos hit a nerve. To return to Earth, to return ‘home’ seemed only a dream. Could Tallos do what he said? Could they come home as heroes, not monsters? He was a General after all. And Earth was beholden to the Diakans. Surely he could make things happen. As appealing as the offer was, however, he knew Tallos was trying to manipulate him.
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